Lightning Causes Fires, Power Outages in Salem Overnight

VIDEO by Salem-News.com's Jerry Freeman

A lightning strike caused a grass fire early Friday morning at near Cordon Road and Kale Ave. Photo: Jerry Freeman Salem-News.com

(SALEM, Ore. ) - Salem, the mid-Willamette Valley, and the Oregon Coast range got a great lightning show, and the sound of booming thunder echoed throughout the valley overnight.

Reports into Salem-News.com and on social media had reports of lighting and thunder from Salem, Albany, Corvallis, parts of Eugene, McMinnville, Dallas, and the Oregon Coast Range.

The National Weather Service radar at 12:30 a.m. showed a strong band of thunderstorms rolling slowly through the Willamette Valley and Oregon Coast range.

In the Salem-Keizer area, light rain and small hail began to fall from the storm at around 12:30 p.m. Other cities reporting light rain and hail are: Albany, Corvallis, Woodburn, Molalla, parts of the Eugene-Springfield area, McMinnville, Dallas, Monmouth, and parts of the Oregon Coast Range.

Grass fires from what fire officials believe were caused by lighting strikes were reported in NE and West Salem. Both were quickly put out by firefighters. Power was reportedly out in NE Salem, and in parts of Polk County.

The storm slowly worked it's way to the Northwest, and moved out of the area.

Friday's high temperature is expected to reach 92 degrees, with a 20 percent chance of another overnight thunderstorm.

Video by Salem-News.com's Jerry Freeman

Video